Vauxhall's SUV-styled MPVs will target Nissan Juke and X-Trail
Vauxhall will replace its Meriva and Zafira people carriers with SUV-styled MPVs within the next two years, as well as introducing a luxurious flagship SUV. Our exclusive images show the look of the new trio, which will give Vauxhall direct rivals to Nissan’s highly successful Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail ranges.
Thanks to a partnership with the PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group, the GM brands are forging ahead with plans to replace the Meriva and ageing Zafira MPVs with cars that, they say, are better suited to current market demands.
As our images show, the Meriva and Zafira will ditch their MPV bodies in favour of a high-riding, SUV-style look. Our sources have confirmed that both cars could arrive as soon as 2016.
Fashion
At the recent Paris Motor Show, Vauxhall’s chairman and managing director Tim Tozer told us: “We describe these types of cars as CUVs. These are the cars that in the next generation we’re working with PSA on. We’re committed to cars that can carry all a family needs, but with the style that’s in fashion.”
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Now an insider has revealed to Auto Express the brand’s CUV (crossover utility vehicle) plans and thanks to the PSA agreement, the two models will also spawn two new cars from Peugeot or Citroen.
“The Meriva and Zafira will make way for two SUV-style cars jointly developed with the PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group,” we were told. “These cars are core to Vauxhall’s future plans – they have to be replaced, but the development costs are high.
“The PSA Group partnership is 50:50 and the big benefit is scale. There is not sufficient volume in these models for us to invest so we are spreading the cost between us.”
Our source added that one of the new cars would be built by Opel-Vauxhall while the other would be made in a PSA Group factory in Europe. Both plants will have Vauxhall and Peugeot-Citroen models coming off their production lines, although which factory will build which model – Meriva or Zafira – hasn’t yet been agreed.
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While the cars will share their architecture and technology with Peugeot-Citroen versions, our source told us the four new models will not look the same – the family association will “not be in tin, but in powertrain and suspension components”.
The insider said: “It’ll only be the media who know of the joint development – the average UK customer will not know these cars came off the same lines. As a guideline to how the Vauxhall and PSA cars will differ, just look at how different the Astra and Peugeot 308 are.”
These two new SUVs are expected to arrive in late 2016, and it’s believed the seven-seater Zafira Tourer will continue to be sold for a while before being replaced completely.
Our images show the replacements will use Vauxhall’s 2.0 design language, which focuses on the front of the car – with a large grille and sizeable air vents in the front bumper – sleek headlights and a rear quarter-light treatment that gives the impression of a floating roof.
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Vauxhall and PSA are working hard to downsize their current petrol and diesel engine line-ups, so the Meriva and Zafira replacements will most probably use highly efficient four-cylinder and turbocharged three-cylinder engines.
And our source also hinted at a range- topping SUV. Our image shows a crossover taking design cues from the Monza concept that could provide Vauxhall with the halo car it needs to move its brand perception upmarket.
What do you think of Vauxhall's plans to break into the crossover/SUV segment with these cars? Let us know in the comments below...
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